B
C
ICONIC BUILDINGS
7.1
67
4
Look at the photos on these pages. Describe each
building. Which do you like most? Why?
5
a
Match verbs 1–8 with their meanings a–h.
1
damage
a
repair to put in original condition
2
rebuild
b
keep in good condition
3
construct
c
build
4
demolish
d
ask someone to build
5
maintain
e
erect again
6
restore
f
plan
7
commission
g
harm
8
design
h
knock down
5
b
Put the verbs in order to show the stages in the life
of a building.
READING
6
a
Read the statements. Are they true or false? Guess
the answers from your knowledge. Compare your
ideas with a partner.
The Colosseum
1
was built in the 15th century.
2
was a place where people watched fights.
3
is older than the other two structures.
4
is currently in very bad condition.
Al Fateh Grand Mosque
5
isn't only used as a mosque.
6
has the biggest fiberglass dome of any building in
the world.
7
can't be visited by holidaymakers.
The Eiffel Tower
8
has always been popular.
9
was the world’s tallest building.
10
was never intended to be permanent.
6
b
Read the website texts and check your answers.
7
Match words in the texts with their meanings 1–10.
1
a circular building with seats arranged on a slope (text A)
2
continued to exist in difficult conditions (text A)
3
repair a building so it is in good condition (text A)
4
people praying (text B)
5
a round roof on a building (text B)
6
the outside (text B)
7
the inside (text B)
8
a building which is easily noticed (text C)
9
not lasting or needed for very long (text C)
10
something ugly or very unpleasant to look at (text C)
SPEAKING AND WRITING
8
Work with a partner. Describe a different building in
Bahrain or a country you know well. Talk about these topics.
•
where it is
•
why you like it
•
what is special about it
•
why you would recommend a visitor to see it
9
Interpreting ideas
Discuss the questions with your partner.
1
Apart from Al Fateh Grand Mosque what do you think
is the most iconic building in your country?
2
Do you think it is a good representation of your
architectural culture? Why?/Why not?
3
What buildings in other countries do you consider
to be iconic?
10
Write a paragraph about the building you discussed
in Exercise 8 or 9.
MEET THE EXPERT
Watch an interview with Laura Mark,
an architectural journalist, about
innovative designs.
Turn to page 152 for video activities.
AL FATEH GRAND MOSQUE
I love Al Fateh GrandMosque inManama,
Bahrain. It was built between 1984 and
1988 and it is named after Ahmed al Fateh,
the ϐirst monarch of Bahrain. Although
it is amodern building, the design is
traditional rather than contemporary. It
is one of the largest mosques in the world
and 7000worshippers can gather inside
this imposing building. Since 2006, it has
also housed the National Library of Bahrain.
The dome is made of ϐibreglass and is the
largest ϐibreglass dome in the world. The
white exterior looks amazing in the sun
and alsowhen lit up at night. The interior
decoration is also very detailed and ornate.
The ϐloors aremade of marble from Italy,
the chandelier is fromAustria and the wood
for the doors is teak from India. Tourists
can have a guided tour of themosque and
learnmore about it. It is one of Bahrain’s
most popular attractions.
THE EIFFEL TOWER
My favourite building, or structure, I
suppose, is the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It’s
one of the world’s best-known landmarks
and it captures the atmosphere of Paris for
me. It looks so elegant and graceful rising
above the city. It was commissioned and
designed as a temporary structure for the
1889 Universal Exhibition, but has never
been taken down, although apparently at
the time there was a lot of opposition from
the public to it, withmany people calling it
an eyesore. It’s massive. I think it’s about
300metres tall – and it was the world’s
tallest structure until about 1930. When it
was built, it was a very innovative design,
but it takes a lot tomaintain – each part of
it is repainted every seven years!
